Fire-escape device



H. WELLEN.

FIRE ESCAPE DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED MAvl. 1920.

1 372 8530 I mm Mar. 29, 1192110 HENRY VTELLEIE OF NEW YORK, N. Y. 4

FIRE-ESCAPE DEVICE.

masses.

Application filed May 1,

To all whom it may concern Be it known that l, HENRY WELLEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, county and State of New York, have made a certain new and useful invention for 'Fire-Escape Devices, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a simple and efiicient construction of a fire escape for aiiorch ing escape from windows or other portions of buildings in'event of fire.

The object of the invention is to provide a device simple in construction and efficient in operation and economical in manufacture, which will permit means of escape from a building in event of fire.

A. further object of the invention is to provide a device of this character adapted to be supplied in quantities to enable any number of persons to escape from the window of a building or from any number of windows in alinement therewith through the medium of a single rope, and which will afford individual control of the speed of travel along said rope by the one using the device.

Further objects of the invention will appear more fully hereinafter.

The invention consists substantiallyin the construction, combination, location and relative arrangement of parts, all as will be more fully hereinafter set forth as shown by the accompanying drawings, and finally pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawing, Figure 1 is a view in elevation of a fire escape system embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a view in perspective of the slide and control member of the system.

Fig. 3 is a view in elevation of the same in its open position.

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the same.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view of a bracket support employed.

Fig. 6, is in accordance with my inven- I tion, a face view of the same with the bracket omitted. The same part ls deslgnated by the same reference number wherever it occurs throughout the several views.

In accordance with my invention, 1 propose to provide a support which is collapsible, for one end of a cable such as a steel rope or other type of cable and to provide means which will enable one who desires to escape from the window or any window' Specification of Letters Eatent.

Patented Mar. 29 11921.

1920. Serial No. 378,171.

enabled to control the speed of descent along the cable.

I am aware that many similar systems have'been heretofore proposed but so far as I am aware, none of them have ever proven practical, largely because the constructions heretofore proposed have been of such complicated and multi-piece construction asto require a longer time to get the apparatus in condition for use than it would to secure egress from the building in other ways. 7

The construction of my invention therefore has for its greatest advantage over similar constructions heretofore proposed, similarity in construction with no parts to get out of order or to require assembling.

in accordance with my invention, somewhere onthe building 1. provide a face plate 1, suitably secured to the building, in which is located a hook shaped groove 2; pivotally secured by the face plate is an arm or bracket provided atits end with a hook 4 to receive thereover an eye 5 or similar engaging means carried by a cable 6, of any suitable size, construction, or material. Pivotally secured to the bracket or support 3, intermediate its ends, is a bracket supporting arm 7, the opposite end of which is slidably secured in groove 2 so that when the arm 7 has moved upwardly to its limit of movement, and then downwardly into the hooked portion 13 of the groove, a rigid support to the bracket 3 is effected.

In accordance with my invention, I provide a sliding device 14 which consists of two members 14 and 14: hinged together and preferably semi-circular in contour. The members 14 and li have respectively lugs 15, witheyelets 16 therein, which when the'device 1 1 is inclosed around the cable 6, register with each other, likewise the members 14c and 1 1" respectively have a locking lug 17 and a locking handle 18 pivotally carried thereby, so that the device 14 may be readily applied around the cable 6 and locked into position therearound.

One of the members 14 and 14: is provided with an opening orwindow 19 and ear lugs 20, between which lugs is pivotally mounted a cam lever 21, the cam surface of which lever is adapted to project more into the cylinder formed by members 142 and 14 when the lever is depressed downwardly. The purpose of the cam surface of the lever 21 is to bear against the cable 6 within the member 14 and thereby by frictional engagement afford means for controlling the speed of descent down the cable.

A band 30 is provided to fit under the arms of one using the device, the endsof which are suitably engaged in the register holes 16 in the lugs 15, thereby in addition to affording a simple quick attachment for the body carrier 30, likewise affording an additional or auxiliary lock for the members 14 and 14 in their closed positions.

From the foregoing, it will be readily seen that in'the event of fire, the device 14 is clamped around the cableG and the body carrier 30 snapped thereto and the descent down the cable can at once be made, and the descent may be as rapid as desired or as slow as desired, in accordance with the amount of pressure exerted upon the cam lever 21. It will therefore be seen that I have provided an exceedingly simple construction requiring no complicated adjust ments which can be quickly applied and placer in operation within an exceedingly minute period of time.

Many modifications and changes in details will readily occur to those skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention, as defined in the claims, therefore what I claim is new and useful and of my own invention and which I desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a fire escape device, and in combination with a supporting cable, a tubular casing formed in two parts hinged together and adapted to incase the cable, means for locking the parts in their closed position, said means including main locking members and auxiliary locking members, ears on one of said parts, and acam lever pivotally mounted between said ears and provided with a cam surface adapted to be projected into the casing to frictionally engage the cable to the degree of pivotal movement imparted to said lever. V

2. In a fire escape device, and in combination with a cable, rope or the like, a tubular casing formed in two parts hinged together, one of said parts being provided with ears cast thereon and outstanding therefrom parallel to each other with a space therebetween, an opening provided in the wall of said part positioned between said ears, a cam lever journaled in said ears and provided with a cam surface adapted to project through the opening in said part between the ears, each of said parts being likewise provided with lugs on the free edge thereof, said lugs being provided with holes therein, the lugs and holes being in alinement with each other to afford attachmen means for a body supporting strap.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand on this 12th day of April A. I).

HENRY WELLEN. 

